A full length cDNA sequence of germin-like protein was cloned from Racomitrium japonicum using RT–PCR, and was named as RjGLP, which was 726 bp in length, contained an open reading frame (ORF) of 669 bp, and encoded with 222 amino acids. The results of bioinformatics demonstrated that the protein belonged to stable protein with molecular weight of 23 397.9 and wtih pI of 6.82. The sequence prediction showed that the protein, located in cytoplasm, was a transmembrane protein and had signal peptide. Multiple sequence alignment of GLP proteins revealed that the protein had typical characteristics of plant germin-like proteins. The RT–qPCR results showed that RjGLP gene could express in the process of quick dehydration, and the expression was higher than that of CK. Therefore, the RjGLP gene was speculated to participate in the stress reaction, and the results would lay the foundations for further study of desiccation-tolerant mechanism.